Method of and apparatus for washing and refilling locomotives.



D. L. WINTERS. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND REFILLINGLOCOMOTIVES.

LICATI0N FILED MAY 29.1915.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

4 SHEETS SHEET I.

D. LIWINTERS. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND REFILLINGLOCOMOTIVES.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Lave 159",

@W kwy w 0. L. WINTERS METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND REFILLINGLOCOMOTIVES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29.1915.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3- I e 5,; ja 0%.; 532022516,

D a 0 D D D a U 0 h I 0 a a u D. L. WINTERS. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FORWASHING AND REF ILLING LOCOMOTIVES. 1,177,220.

APPLICAHON FILED MAY 29. I915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4- Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

N am Mb mm ah QQN UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID Ii. WINTERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND REEILLING LOCOMOTIVES.

To all whom it mag concern: Be 1t known that I. DAVID L. WINTERS, a

. citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, .have invented a new and useful Improvementin Methods of and Apparatus for Washing and Refilling Locomotives, ofvwhich the following is a specification.

It is necessary in the operation of locomotives that the boilers thereofbe cleaned at intervals of the accumulations therein of mud, or the likefrom the water used, and according to common practice the boiler is.washed after blowing down, with a mixture of. blowotf and fresh water ata safe temperature for handling, and is then refilled with a likemixture or 'with fresh water to which has been added, when possible, theheat units contained in the blowofi steam from the boilers to be washedand refilled. Conditions presented in practice necessitate the blowingdown of locomotives without loss of time when the washing of the boilerbecomes necessary, with the result that large quantities of theheatunits containedin the blowoff steam are wasted, due to the fact that thenumber of locomotives being blown down often greatly exceeds the, numberbeing-refilled, this being a well known and recognized condition duringthe morning hours in all locomotive terminals. In the natural order ofevents these conditions are of course reversed later in the day, andsince an amount of fresh water equal/to at least the amount of blowofl'water used for wash-s ing purposes must be-added tothe refilling waterto return the washed locomotives to service conditions, large quantitiesof live steam in present practice are used to maintain the temperatureof the refilling water at this time when. in the usual order of events,the number of locomotives being refilled, greatly exceeds the number"being blown down, and a suflicient quantity of blowoif- :i steam forthis purpose is, therefore; not available.

Under normal conditions, the amount of water blown off at any locomotiveterminal during each twenty-four hours will be anproximatel-y the amountrequired to refillthe same or alike number of other locomotives. and myprimary obiect, as to one of the features of my invention. is toprovide, by the exclusive use of this bl-owofl' water to refilllocomctive boilers. a novel method of, and a novel, simple andinexpensive appa- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 28,1916. Application filed May 29,

1915. Serial No. 31,251.

ratus, for refilling locomotive boilers with soft, clarified andsuperheated water, without the use of any live steam.

In common practice the exhauststeam from the washout and refillingcpumpsis discharged directly into the mass of refilling water, and this ofnecessity is totally wasted at all times during which blowolfsteam isbeing supplied in excessive quantities, and partly wasted at all othertimes, due to heat radiation from the mass of re .filling water.

Another and important object of the method and apparatusherein'described, is to provide for the immediate and completeutilizatim of the exhaust steam from the washout and'refilling pumps,-as follows: l irst. To heat the washout water, which is. obtained froman outside source and re-used, preferably for the same purpose. Second.To superheat the refilling water during the passage of same'through therefilling main. Third. To maintain the temperatures in the washout andrefilling mains at all times.

The important economies and advantages effected by the use of-the methodand appa ratus herein described are as follows: First. The exclusive useof the blowofi water for refilling locomotive boilers, since it is dailysupplied by the locomotives in substantially the amount required, at thetemperature required, and accompanied always by more than sufficientsteam to compensate for heat lost by radiation during clarification,eliminates the necessity-as encountered in common practice,'for the useof fresh water and livesteam in refilling boilers, together with thecomplicated and expensive apparatus required to'automatically regulatethe use of said live steam. Second. The use of exhaust steam from thewashout pump to heat washout water from an-outside source, since theproportions of steam and water may be readily changed bvincreasinq ordiminishing the pressure in the washout main bymeans of the pumpgovernor usuallv emploved and since these prop rtions will remainconstant. irrespective of the amount of water used. eliminates thenecessity as encountered in common practice for the mixture of blowofiand fresh Water-for this purpose. together with the complicated andexpensive autcmatic or manually controlled valves to regulate or changethe relative supply cf hot and cold water. Third. The use of the"exhaust steam from the refilling 1 pumps to superheat the refillingwater dur ing the passage of same through therefilling main, sin'ce'thissteam can be introduced into said main irrespective of the tempera- 5ture of the refilling water, eliminates the total .or partial waste ofthis 'steam as employed in. present practice, and secures to theparticular locomotive being restored to service, the greatest amount ofheat avail--' able from both the blowofi and exhaust steam. Fourth. Thestill further use of the small amount of exhaust steam available fromboth the washout and refilling pumps at intervals duringwhichlocomotives are neither being washed nor filled, for the pur-' pose ofmaintaining the temperatures in the washout and refilling mains,eliminates the necessity. as employed in present practice, of

. continually circulating the water in the mains, and of a comparativelygreat consumption of live steam to operate the pumps the storage tank,the contents of which .will

not be agitated by eitherthe blowofl' water or steam from'the.locomotives, and through which the stored jblowofi; waterwill graduallywork its way front the place of entrance to the place of usein aprescribed course that will effectually prevent an *accumulation of deadwater in the lower portions of the compartments, the contents of whichare not subjected to the agitating action of the blowofl' products.termediate compartment, where oil, grease, and other lighterfoam-causing impurities willcollect on the undisturbed surface of thestored water, I provide a simple skimming device to remove theseimpurities pe-' '50 riodicallv, and at the same time the'heavierimpurities are being removed from this, and

' a valved conduit. v i

Referring to the accompanying draw ings, wherein I have illustratedanapparatus suitable for carrying out my improved method and constructedin accordaficewith from the other compartments by means of myinvention--Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus,-- showing it inconnection with CO I .vation, partly sectional,- of the terminal-of bw-01f p -1. .a t aezuslr '-wh .tl rs fi In the inthe piping, which wouldbe located in theroundhouse'; Fig. 2 is ai'view in elevation of theapparatus. the water receptacles be-I ing shown in section; Fig. 3 is aview in eie water'and steam are discharged into the apparatus; Fig. 4 isa similar viewof a.

device'for superheating the refilling water by the exhaust from therefilling pump, a part of the wall of the storage tank being shown insection; Fig. 5 is a view in vertical sectional elevation of a'- devicefor skimming the surface of the water discharged from the locomotive;Fig. 6 is a section taken at the line 6 on Fig. 5, and viewed in thedirection of the arrow; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the bottom of the tankinto which the blowofi' water and steam are discharged for storage; andFig. '8, a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modification of the apparatus ofthe preceding figures.

5} represents a tank shown to be of generally .cylindrical shape incross-section, with a hopper-shaped bottom 9, this tank being preferablyformed of heat non-conductlng material, as for example, wood, andcontaining a removable and replaceable lining 1 also of Wood, but notWatertight,

held out of contact with the outer wall of the tank, by ineans ofspacers 11, whereby additional insulation 'is provided between the walls8 and 10 to reduce radiation and to protect the permanent outer wallsagainst. damage by steam. The tank 8, in accord-- ance with thepreferred embodiment of my invention, is divided into three chambers,12, 13, and 14, by partitions 15 and 16, composed of heat-conductingmaterial in the tank 8. The partition 15 passes through,

thecenter ofthe tank, theneby causing the chamber 12 to'beoflsubstantiallyone-half the size of theen'tire tank; and the partition16 extends atright angles to the partition 15 and divides the remainderof the tank into the twochambers 13 and 14, preferably. of the same sizeand each comprising about-one-half the capacitv of the chamber 12. The,bottom of thetank 8 contains three openings, 17, 18.'and "'19, whichcommunicate, respectively, with the chambers 12, 13 and Hand open into adrain-pipe 20, having a valve 21' for a'purpose hereinafter stated.

In the operation of the apparatus as here- 'inafter explained, theblowofi water and 'steam'from the locomotive to be emptied is introducedinto the receiving chamber 12, and the water for refilling thelocomotive is drawn from the, chamber 14, the partition ,15 and thepartitionv 16 between .the "chambers 12, 13 and 14 being perforated attheir upper and lower ends respectively, as represented at 29 and 30,whereby water flows from the chamber 12' thence into the cham -'ber 13and" from this last-referred-to chamber into the chamber 14.

The blowoff pipe for conducting the steam and water blown ofi'from thelocomotive to the apparatus is represented at 22,

this pipe representingthati which is usually provided in the roundhouse,and which in )ractice is rovided with the necessar connections forattaching it to a locomotive boiler. This pipe is connected with a pipe23 which COHHQCtS'WllZlI a pipe 24 located vin the chamber 12 andopening into a T- 1 into the lower part of the chamber 12.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention, the fresh,relatively cold water, which must be supplied to the apparatusunder theconditions presentedin practice, is supplied to be used for washing outthe boiler, and to raise its temperature to that at which it may besafely used, I employ the following described construction:

This construction involves a tank 31, shown" as located in the chamber12, the lower end of this tank being closed by a wall '32, and its upperend being open.) A pipe 33 communicates at one end with the bottom ofthe tank 31 and opens at its opposite end into the suction-end of a pump34 for pumping wash-water to the locomotive, as here-- inafterdescribed, the pipe 33 containing two T-couplings 35 and 36 and,intermediate these, a valve 37. A pipe 38 connects at one end with thetank 31, near the upper end of the latter, and at its lower end with theTcoupling 36, this pipe containing a valve 39. The water service supplypipe for furnishing fresh water to the apparatus and which would leadfrom any desirable source, is represented at 40, the lower end of thispipe opening into the T-coupling 35 between the tank 31 and the valve37. The tank 31,

near its upper end, is provided with a spout 41:, this spout beingarranged above the normal water line in the chambers 12, 13 and 14, andprovided with a check-valve42 opening outwardly from the tank 31, for apurpose. hereinafter explained. y In the operation of the apparatus ashereinafter more fully described, the wash-water is drawn intothe pump34 from the pipes 33, and 38, thereby drawing Water from the tanl'r31,and to maintain the water-in this tank at the desired level above thepoint at which the pipe 38 communicates with the interior of the tank31, I provide the pi 3e 40 with; a valve represented diagrammatically at43, connected'with a lever 44 I'ulcrumed,

as indicated at 45, op a'bracket 46 carried by the casing of the valve43, oneendlof'this levep-being connected through the medium of a rod 47,with a float 48, and its opposite end carrying a counterweight 49; Theparts just described are so proportioned that should the water in thetank 31lower, the float 48 will descend andopen the valve 43, whichpermits more water to enter the tank 31by way of the pipe 40 and 33. Thetank 3-1conta1ns a pipe 50 supported in dependsteam from the pump willdischarge through the perforations 51 in the pipe 50, into the water inthe tank 31, thereby heating it. The discharge end of the pump 34 isconnected with a pipe 55 which, in accordance with common practice, isconnected with a pipe 56 extending around the roundhouse and providedwith taps (not shown) for connection with thejusual wash-nozzleeynployed, which, in accordance with common practice, is constricted.

The pump for pumping refilling water to the locomotive is represented at26, the suction end of the pump being connected with a pipe 57 whichopens through the wall of the tank 8 into a pipe 58 of larger diameter,the latter being perforated, preferably throughout its entire length, asrepresented, and preferably arranged in an inclined position with itsupper end above the normal water level, represented at a, and its lowerend below the minimum water level, .repre sented at ;1 the discharge endof the pump 26 being connected with a pipe 59 whlch connects with a pipe(30 arranged in the roundhouse 1n accordance w th common practice andprovided with taps whereby it may be connected with the locomotive her14, the lower end of this pipe, which is perforated, as indicated at 64,extending into the pipe 58 at the upper end of the latter and spacedtherefrom as represented, the lower end of the pipe 62 by preferencebeing closed by a cap 65.

It will be understood from the foregoing that when the refilling pump 26is operated the exhaust steam therefrom will pass through the pipe 62,discharging through the perforations 64- therein into the Water whichpasses into the pipe 58 through the perforations therein, which servesvery effectually to super-heat the refill-Water in its passage to thepump 26.

A description of the operation of the apparatus, inso far as it has beendescribed, is as follows, assuming that the chambers 12, 13, and 14 arefilled with hot water to at least the minimum water .line 3/. The waterand steam blowofi' pipe of a boiler (not shown) to be emptied, washedand refilled, is connected with the pipe 22, and the hot water and steamin the boiler discharged therethrough and through the pipes 23 and 24,the pipe 24 being preferably of considerably larger diameter than thepipe 23. The

steam and waterupon entering the pipe 24,

loses lnueh fi its ressure, and is discharged through the perforationsin the pipes 28 into the lower portion of the chamber 12.

In the chamber 12, which receives the muddy blowofl' water, as-stated,the initial operation of settling the mud out of the water takes place,the water in partly clarified condition flowing through the openings 29in ,the partition 15 and through the openings 30 in the partition 16 tomaintain the same water level in'all three. of these chambers, thechamber 13, according to the sequence of operation, being a supplementalchamber, and the chamber 14 being what heated condition. a

- In the operationof' the apparatus lt 1S.

may be termed, a final storage chamber,

from which the clarified wateris drawn for' refilling the locomotives. Aportion of the blowoflt steam discharged into the chamber 12 afterpassing upwardly through the water therein and heating it'practically tothe boiling point, escapes into the chambers" 13 and 14 above the waterlevel therein, this being made possible by having these tanks open oneinto'the other at their upper ends,

as through the medium of the. perforations 29 and opening 26' in thepartition 15 be- 7 tween the chamber 12, and the chambers 13 and 14. Thesteam blown off from the loco-- motive is of such volume that it isimpracticable to trap all of it in the tank 8, and accordingly, a ventis provided, this vent being provided with a pressure check-valve 66 ofany suitable construction, which opens outwardly and operates, when thepressure of the steam above the'water in the tank 8 exceeds apredetermined degree, to permit the excess steam to discharge therefrom.

Steam, however, underipressure, re ulated to suit the conditionpresented, by adjusting thevalve 66, remains inthe upper portions of thethree-chambers {253 123, and 14, and

serves to maintain the ffwater therein m intended that thewaterforwashing out the boiler of the. locomotive be drawnin suchproportions. from the upper end of the tank- 31, wherein the water isthe hottest, and from the fresh water service pipe 40 in such;proportions, depending on'ci-rcumstances', as to cause the watersupplied to the locomotive boiler to be of thedesired temperature, as

for example, between 120"and 130. degrees F vThe wash-out waterissupplied to the boiler of a locomotive by (geratmg the pumpv 34 whichdraws water our the upper endo the tank 31 through the pipe 38 anddirectly from the service pipe 40, forcing the water. thus drawn fromthese two sources through the p1pe 55 and pipe 56 to the boiler throughthe connections between the latter and the pipe 556. When the water inthe tank 31 lowers the float 48 will descend, thereby opening the valve43"and permitting fresh water to enter the lower end of the tank 31through the pipes 40 'and 33 suflicient to maintain the desired level inthe tank 31.

The water for refilling thelocomotive. boilers is drawn from thechamber'14 by operating the pump 26. through the perforated pipe 58, andthence The water' flowing' V through the pipe57 into'the' pump, where ofthe refill water if it was not already at the I boiling point, andcausing, in the normal operation of the apparatus, the water to be mixedwith steam, whereby the locomotive v,

boiler is supplied with water at above theboiling point by reason of theplacing of the water under high pressure by the action of the pump 56,which produces a very desirable condition, inasmuch as the boilersmay becaused very quickly to produce steam of sufiicient' pressure. forrunning purposes. The chambers 13 and 14. are preferably of suchdimensions that they will hold suflicient Water to refill the number oflocomotive" boilers which under normal conditions will be refilledduring twenty-four'hours, and

- thus the water which is refilled intothe locomotives in the ordinaryoperations of the apparatus will be given ample time for settling,whereby it.will be in properly clarified condition for reentering theboiler. I

By providing the three chambers, 12, 13, and 14, and introducingtheblowofi water and steam into the first 'fofithe three chambers,agitation [of th'ewater which may occur by the discharge of the blowoflwater and-"steam into the apparatus,-is confined to the first" chamberand thus the water'in chambers 13 and,14 is not disturbed, with a,

manifest advantage. Certain ofthe difiiculties encountered in apparatusprovided for this purpose are not due to the deficiency of heat unitsdischargedfrom the boiler in the blowoif operation, but to the fact thatthe heat thus} furnished is not properly conserved. it According to myinvention the blowofi steam which, as stated, above, isprovided in largequantities, is caused to be discharged into a relatively large body orwater for refilling purposes/which. holds its heat for a relatively longt1me,-not only because of the insulating feature of the tank -may befurther stated that when locomotives are blown ofi', and restored toservice, "at comparatively short intervals, which is thecommonlpractice, the trapping-of the steam in the upper part of thechambers 12, 13,

. and 14 insures the refilling of the locomotive boilers with water atthe desired temperature, and under such conditions the introductioninto. the refilling water as it passes tothe locomotive boiler, ofexhaust steam from the pump 26, while desirable, is notnecessary,-this-last referred to'feature of the apparatus presenting itsgreatest usefulvalved pipe connections 66 between i, the exhaust steam.from both 'ness where, for example, a number of locomotives are washedand refilled before a locomotive is blown down, which sometimes occurs,as for example, when locomotives are brought from the repair shops andfilled, in

which case should the water in the chambers water in relatively coolcondition, from a source other than the boilers of the locomotives. willbe discharged into the tank 8, as

hereinafter described-- The provision of the valves 53', 6.3, and thethe pipes 52 and 62, permit of the passage haust steam from elther ofthe pumps 34 and 26 to either the chamber 14 or 31, as

desired, should conditions in the apparatus render it advisable at anytime to discharge into one chamber only.

In connection with the washout and refill mains I prefer toemploymeanswhereby the water standing in these mains when the apparatusis not being operated, will be maintained at a desirable temperature, inorder that the water first entering the 1000- motiveboiler in either-thewashout or ress filling-operation will not injure the boiler.

This is effected by stringing a pipe 67 of relatively small diameter andin communication with the exhaust-pipe 52, through the a pipe andpipe'56, and the pipe 68 .of relatively small diameter 0 and connectedwith the pipe 62, through the pipes 59 and 60, these pipes, which areprovided'with valves 70 and 71 respectively,

opposite ends of the blowoff pipe 22. The pipes 67 and 68 may besupplied with steam pipe 22 and pipe 23,

of the exof thesepumps being connected at-their ends with pipes 73,which open into the from any suitable source. It is preferred, however,that exhaust steam be used and that this be provided from theexhaustchambers of the pumps 34 and 26. This is a desirable arrangement,inasmuch as it is highly desirable that the pumps 34 and 26, which areautomatically started and stopped by the'drop of pressure in therespective mains 55 and 59, caused by opening one or the other to supplywater to the locomotive andthe reestablishment of back pressure in thesemains by shutting them otffare allowed to slowly operate to avoid accumuation of condensed steam-in the cylinders. '10 insure this creepingaction of the pumps Iprovide by-passes 72 between the suction anddischarge-water chambers of the pumps, and

I 68, there by maintaining the water in these pipes and the--roundhousepipes 56 and 60 connected therewith, at a desirable temperature, thecondensed steam returning through and passing into the chamber 12, thisbeing the course of the exhaust steam from the pumps 34 and 26 duringthe creeping operation thereof, inasmuch as the pressure of thissteam isinsutficient to displace the water which would fill the lower ends ofthe pipes 52 and 62, where they extendinto the tank 31 a nd chamber 14respectively. When, however, these pumps are operating to furnish waterto a boiler, and the exhaust from these pumps is, therefore, underrelatively great pressure, practlcally all of the steam will dischargeinto the tank 31 and chamber 14 respectively, in-

asmuch as the diameter of the pipes 67 and 68 is very small comparedwith the diameter of the pipes 52 and 62.

As hereinbefore stated, the water level in the tank 8 may drop below theminimum level 3 where a number of locomotives are refilled in successionand which have not previously been blown off into the storage tank, andin such case water from a source other than a locomotive boiler isintroduced into the tank. In the particular arrangement shown, this iseffected by means of a float 74, which also forms a part of the sk mmmgmechanism. hereinafter referred to, this float being connected by acable 74 with a with the running over pulleys 75 and 76, weight 77connected by a cable 78 lever 44, the heavy to partly counterbalance thefloat 74, and the float 74 being heavier than the weights 49 and 7 7.Thus, when the waterlevel 1n the tank'8 drops below that indicated at 3thefloat 74 will lift the Weight 77 and rock the lever 44 on itsfulcrum, which automatically opens the valve 43. This allows water fromthe pipe 40 torise in the tank 31, forcing its way pas shock I weight 77being sufficiently ;matically closes.

The flat 74 is preferably provided with diametrically extending openings74, which communicate with the central pipe 175, sliding 1n an uprightstationary pipe 17 6 la secured in the chamber 13 and extending belowthe tank 9, where it is provided with a valve 177, accessibleto theoperator, the pipe 176 communicating betweenits ends with a the water,the valve 177 being providediorthe purpose of permitting the operator todetermine whether or not the float 74 maintains the necessary positionin the water for pipe 178, which has a downturned end open mg throughthe bottom 9 of the tank and into the pipe 20. I disposed that the waterin which the float 73 1s .partiallysubmerged will extend at its uppersurface substantially central of these openings, and thus when the wily21 is opened, for apurpose hereinafter expl the surface water and ined,floating impurities 74, passing down through the pipes 175, 176 and 78,and discharglng into the pipe 20, thus skimming the upper surface of thewater of oil,.,gre'ase, or other floating impurities on the surface ofskimming the surface thereof.

From time to time, it is necessary thatthechambers 12, 13, and 14 becleared of the in its accumulations of mud or other vparticles whichhave settled from the blowofi' water; passage through these chambers,this beingeifected by openi g the valve 21, which permits theaccumulations 1n the bottomof .these chambers to' be flushed therefromand discharge into any suita paratus, fresh water on through theopenings 17, 18, and 19, and the.

material skimmed fromthe upper'surface of the water to pass thrdu h thepipe 90 le drain. Thus the material, such as mud, which gravitates tothe bottom of .the chambers, and the floating im urities skimmed fromthe upper sunthe water therein, are caused to dis the single Anotherreason why it is advantageous to use, imthe normal 0 erationbf theapy'ior washout purposes, as distinguished from introducing fresh waterinto the water .tobe refilled into Me n treated, .at relatively great*e'xpense, necessary. While onthe other hand such .the locomotive,arises from the .fact that chemical treatment of the water where the"supply'of fresh water available for use in connection withftheapparatus is of a kind that, before lt can ,be used in. generation watermay, withperiect safety, as

.washwa-ter:

The holes 74' are so the tank 31 and the located outside-of the housingand the pipe It will from tli -fomgoing locomotive boilers is}: h

that the scope of my invention is not limited to the combining of thewashout and refilling units as shown in this, my preferred construction,and that the washout unit can be operated entirely separate from therefilling water, without the necessity of changing unit as described.The advantages derived A either the pressure or volume of this water atthe point of use. It will also bei 'readily understood that while Ipurposely omit the separation of the blowofl steam from the blowoflwater in the usual manner and the use of this steam in -chamber 14, itis ,because the normal temperature of this water, due to contact withheat conducting partition 15'an d'with surplus steam,'will remain at ornear the boiling point, and that it is clearly within the scope of myinvention to utilize this, or any other welkknown and common. form ofheater in chambers .13 and .14 where unusual'conditions warrant theadditional cost thereof.

The tank 31 is-by preference located in a position, as for example, thatstated, wherein 1t will be subjected by radiation to the heat of theblowofl" water and steam which undersome conditions may be 'found to be.

' steam, to position the tank 31 where its con-' tents will notbe heatedby radiation, from the blowofi' water and steam. Such a modification ofthe apparatus is'illustrated in Fig. 8, wherein the elements of theapparatus are'thesame as in'the preceding-figures and beartheisamenumerals, excepting that float-controlled valve are 40 insteadof connecting with the heater 31 at a point between the latter and thepump 34 connects with a cqu-pling 40* which opens into. the

pipe communicating with the lower end of the heater '31 andopening'int'o the coupling 36. Furthermore other suitable,

forms of apparatus may rying out my invention, apparatus is concerned ora be employed incarand in so far as the other modifications ditions,may, be made therein within ,the spiri of my inr ln'tioh', and withinthe of he appended-claims.

at Lelaim as and desire to secure L ts'latentiis. it. The method 0 hingand refilling l ists in storing the Water blown off from the boilers,washing the boilers with waterother than the blowoif water, tempered tothe desired degree, and refilling the boilers With'water, utilizing thestored blo'wofi' Water for this purpose only. i y j V 2. The method ofwashing and refilling locomotive boilers which consistsin storing waterblown off. from the boilers, washing the boilers with Water other thanthe blowoff watertempered to the desired degree, re filling the storedblowofi water for this purpose only, blowofi' water in its passage tothe boilers, steam for superheating the water.

3. The method of washing and refilling locomotive boilers which consists1n storlng the water blown off from the boilers, Washlng the boilerswith tempered water other than the blo voif water, and refilling the.boilers with the blowoif water first intro-' duced into the storagetank,

4. In apparatus of the character set forth, thef combination of aplurality of waterchambers, including an intermediate chamber, meansforcausing the first one of the chambers of said series to communicatewith the. intermediate chamber near the top of thelast referredtochambenmeans for causing the intermediate, chamber to com-municate"with the last one 'of the'chambers of said series near the bottom ofsaid last reblowofi water pumping Water 'ferred to'chamber, means forintroducing blowoff water from a boiler being emptied, into the firstone of the chambers of said series, and means fer conducting'water fromthe last one of the chambers of said series to a boiler for refillingpurposes.

5. In apparatus of the character set forth, the, combination of a. tankprovided with metal partitions dividing it into a plurality .of waterchambers in successive communication with each ducing blowofi water fromthe boiler of a other, means for introloco'motive'to be emptied, intothefirst chamber of said series, and means for conducting Water from thelast one of the chambers of said series to a boiler for refillingpurposes, said metal partitions serving to conduct heat from theboiler-water introduced.

Into said first chamber, to the Water in said other chambers.

6. In apparatus ofthe combination of the character set forth, a chamberforstoring from a boiler, means for from said chamber into a locomotiveboiler to fill it, and means for introducing steam; into therefill-water during its passage to. the boiler.v

In apparatus of the character setforth,

the combi ation of a chamber for storing blowoff water from. a boiler,means for' Water from said chamber into a pumping locomotive boiler toboilers with Water, utilizing the pipe into the water in said forth,storing blowoflt' Water from a boiler of a loother than the bloWoffWater, discharging water from said conduit into a.

fill it, and means for subjecting the refill-water in its passage totheboiler, to the exhaust steam from said pumping means.

8. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a chamberfor storing the blowolf water from the boiler of a locomotive, a pipe incommunication with' the storage water closely adjacent to the level ofthe water, means for discharging the stored 'blowoff water into a boilerto be filled, and means for introducing steam into the portion of thewater into which the said pipe opens. g

9. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a chamberfor storing blow off water from a locomotive boiler, aperforated pipeextending into'said chamber with its perforations closely adjacent tothe level of the water, means connected with said pipe for dischargingwater from said chamber into a boiler to be filled, a pipe extendinginto said first named pipe and submerged in the \vater'therein, andmeans for introducing steam through-said last-named first-named pipe.

10. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of achamber for storing blowofl water from a boiler of a locomotive, thanblowofi' water fromJzhe boiler, to a boiler to be washed, means forheating the washwater, with blowofi' water from said chamber.

11. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination; of achamber for storing'blowofi' water from a boiler of a locomotive, meansfor supplying to a locomotive-boiler washwater, other than *said blowofl.Water, means for subjecting to blowoff product heat the water to beused for washing, and means for filling a boiler with Water from saidstorage-chamber.

12. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of achamber for storing blowofi Water from a boiler of a'lo-.

means for supplying water, other and means for refilling a boilercomotive, a conduit exposed to blow-oil product heat, means for supplywater other than the blowoft' Water to said conduit, means fordischarging water from said conduit into a boiler for ashing it, andmeans for filling a boiler with Water from said storage chamber.-

13. In apparatus of the character setv the combination of a chamber forcomotive, a conduit supplied with Water 1 means for locomotive boiler towash it, a steam-pipe opening into said conduit. and means fordischarging steam through said pipe into said conduit.

-14. In "apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of achamber for storing blowoif water from a boiler of a le- -comotive, atank positioned to be subjected.

to blow off-product heat, means forsupplying said tank with waterother-than the blowoff water, means for discharging water from said tankinto a locomotive boller to wash it, a pipe extending into, and openinginto said tank, means for supplying steam to said pipe for discharginginto said tank,

forth, the combination of a blow-off pipe for receiving the blowofi'"contents of a boiler to. be washed and refilled, a tank for receivingthe blowoif water, a conduit con-, f

nected with a Water supply, a steam-operated pump for discharging waterthrough said conduit into the boiler of a locomotive,

said conduit being filledwith Water at all times, means for continuouslyoperating said pump, means in communication with the I heating the waterconfined in said conduit,

tank. w v 18. In apparatus of the character 'detive boiler to refill thelatter,

and means for conveying into said tank the surplus steam Which isnotcoridensed in the heatin of the water in the said conduit.

17. n apparatus of the character set forth, the combination ofa chamberfor storing blowoff water from aboiler of a locomotive, a tank adaptedto be supplied with: water other than the blowofi' Water, a steam-pumpfor pumping wash-Water to a locomotive boiler, from said tank, meanspump during the washing operation, into the water in of'the water insaid chamber, into a lecomoand means for conducting the exhaust steamfrom said refillpump during the refilling operation into the scribed,the combination of a steam operated pump to supply washing water to alocomosource of supply to said pump andfrom said pump-to said'boiler, awater-pressure goviernor to regulate the pressure of water'and consumed,and means in said water main to chamber. exhaust steam-chamber of thepump'for said tank, a refill steam-oper ated pump for-pumping the upperportion upper portion of the water in saidwater froma b il r,

e refilling purposes. tivegboiler, a water malnleadmg from a utilize theheat units in the exhaust steam from-said pump to' heat said washingwater during the use thereof. g

19. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a pipefor conducting 'heated'water to a locomotive boiler, and a pipe in saidfirst-named pipe of smaller external diameter than the internal diameterof the latter, and means for supplying steam to said second-named pipewhereby the water in said water-pipe is maintained atall times in heatedcondition.

20. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of achamber for storing blow-off water from boilers, means for pumping waterfrom the upper portion of the body of water in saidchamber intolocomotive boilers to fill "them, and means for subjecting the-refillwater. in its passage -to the boilers to the pumping means.

21. I forth, the combination "of a. chamber for storing blow-off waterfrom boilers, means blow-01f water, into boilers to "wash them, meansfor subjecting the wash-water to blow-ofi"-product heat and x exhauststeam from said pumping means, and means for refilling 'forth, thecombination of a chamber for storing blow-0H water from boilers, means iI passage" to the boilers, to the heat in theflexfor dlscharging theexhaust'steam from said 1 chambers, in successive communication witheach other at different elevationsin alternate arrangement, whereby asinuous course for the water passing through said charfibers is.provided, means for introducing, blow-01fv first one of said series ofchambers, and means for conductingv water from the last one of saidseries of 2 5. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combinationof ase'riesvof comexhaust steam from said n apparatus of the characterset or pumping wash-water, other than the the boilers with waterfromsaid 22. In apparatus of the character 'set' to be'emptied, into thechambers to a boiler'for I muni'cating.water-chambers, means forintroducing blow-off water from a boiler, to be-emptied, into one ofsaid chambers", means the other of refilling purposes,

for conducting blow-oil" water from one of I I said chambers to a boilerfor and means forcausing steam from a boiler being emptied to enter -theupper portions of the chambers, above the water therein.

26. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a seriesof waterchambers in successive communication with each other atdifferent elevations in alternate arrangement, whereby a sinuous coursefor the water passing through said chambers is provided, means forintroducing blow-01f water from a boiler to be emptied, into the firstone of said series of chambers, to a boiler for refillin purposes, andmeans for causing steam rom a boiler being emptied toenter the upperportions of said chambers beyond the first one of the series thereof,above the water therein.

27. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a seriesof waterchambers in successive communication with each other atdifferent elevations in alternate arrangement, whereby a sinuous coursefor the Water passing through said chambers is provided, means forintroducing the blow-oif-products from a boiler to be emptied, into thefirst one of said series of chambers, means for conducting the waterfrom the last one of said series of cham bers to a boiler for refillingpurposes, and means for causing the excess steam in the first chamber ofsaid series to enter the other of said chambers above the water levelstherein.

28. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a tankprovided With metal partitions dividing it into a plurality ofWater-chambers in successive communication with each other, means forintroducing the blow-otf-products from a boiler, to be emptied, into thefirst chamber of said series, means for conducting Water from the lastone ofthe chambers of said series to a boiler for refilling purposes,said metal partitions serving to conduct heat from the blow-oflfproducts introduced into said first chamber to the water in said otherchambers, and means providing communi cation between said first-chamberand the others thereof above the water'levels therein, whereby excesssteam in the blow-off water rising from the latter in said first chamberspreads into the top portions of all of the other chambers 29. Inapparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a chamber forstoring blow-off water from the boiler of a locomotive, means forsupplying water other than blow-off water, from the boiler, to a boilerto be washed, means for heating the wash-water, means for refilling aboiler with blow-off water from said chamber, and

means for skimming the accumulations on the upper surface of the storedboiler-water. 30. In apparatus of the character set forth, thecombination of a chamber for storing blow-off water from the boiler of alocomotive, means for supplying water, other than blow-oil water fromthe boiler, to a boiler to be Washed, means for heating the wash-water,means for refilling the boiler with blow ofi water from said chamber,and means for simultaneously effecting discharge of accumulations fromthe upper and lower portions of the stored water.

31. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of achamber for storing the blow-ofl water from the boiler of a locomotive,means for supplying water,

other than blow-oil water from the boiler to the boiler to be washed,means for heating the'wash-Water, means for refilling the boiler withblow-off water from said chamber, and means for maintaining a minimumwater level in said chamber.

32. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of aplurality of water-chambers, including an intermediate chamber, meansfor causing the first one of the chambers of said series to communicatewith the intermediate chamber near the top of the last referred tochamber, means for causing the intermediate chamber to communicatewiththe last one of the chambers of said series'near the bottom of saidlast referred to chamber, means for introducing blow-ofi' water from aboiler being emptied, into the first one of the chambers of said series,means for conducting water from the last oneof the chambers of saidseries to a boiler for refilling purposes, and means for maintaining aminimum Water level in said first chamber. V PAVID L. WINTERS.

In resence of-' C. THORSEN, O. C. Avrsvs;

Copies of an pltentmy be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the"Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. 0."

